Devon Cricket Board - Devon thrashed by Staffordshire

Devon thrashed by Staffordshire

Staffordshire v Devon, Sunday 30th May, Hem Heath CC

Devon slipped to a second successive county championship defeat in their latest outing away at Staffordshire. After asking Staffordshire to bat on a cold and winter like day with a howling gale they struck very early with Rebecca Donohue picking up the wicket of England newcomer Danielle Wyatt for just a single, caught in the gully by Aimee Watkins. Clara Nielson then had the dangerous Francesca James caught at mid on by Catherine Mitcham and at 52-2 there was the chance that Devon could restrict Staffordshire to a score of less than 200. They did not however count in Kiwi keeper Rachel Priest who smashed 88 from 91 balls that included 14 boundaries. Devon kept taking wickets but despite Aimee Watkins bowling ten overs for just 22 no other bowler could go better than 4 an over with Giselle Ansley the pick taking 2-40 from her ten. A much improved fielding and bowling performance with only 13 extras conceded that left Devon needing 212 to win.

The reply never really got going with the visitors not really getting much to go their way, 4 LBWs and a ridiculous caught behind given to dismiss Giselle Ansley did not help. Aimee Watkins made 42 from 41 balls but apart from Lottie Miles, 15, who shared a 43 run 5^th wicket stand nothing of any note from any batsmen. Clara Nielson and Rebecca Donohue frustrated the opposition long enough to enable youngster Catherine Mitcham to hit 5 not out to secure a batting point as Devon took five points out of the game in which their batting had let them down badly. Full Scorecard

Staffordshire 211-9 from 50 overs (R. Priest 88, K. Evenson 32; G. Ansley 2-40) Devon 102 all out from 45.1 overs (A. Watkins 42; D. Wyatt 3-21, L. Spooner 2-5). Staffordshire beat Devon by 109 runs

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